18-year-old dies, 3 others hurt in two-vehicle wreck

An 18-year-old Port Lavaca man died Thursday afternoon after a Ford F-250 crashed into his vehicle on U.S. Highway 87.

John Patrick Torres Jr. was pronounced dead by Calhoun County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5 Nancy Pomykal. The crash occurred about 4:30 p.m.

Torres was driving north on Farm-to-Market Road 2433, turning onto U.S. Highway 87, when a southbound Ford F-250 collided with his vehicle, said Trooper Gerald Bryant of the Department of Public Safety.

The truck struck the driver's side of the Mazda M3i, Bryant said. Three passengers in the vehicle were transported to hospitals. Two are listed in critical condition, Bryant said.

No one in the Ford pickup, which was driven by Richard Ward, 37, of Port Lavaca, was reported injured.

Brooke Llorance, 19, of Port Lavaca, was flown to University Hospital in San Antonio in critical condition. The hospital was unable to provide an updated condition Thursday night.

Tearsten Casanova, 18, of Port Lavaca, went to Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital in Corpus Christi. Casanova's condition remained critical Thursday night, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Sean Herrera, 17, of Port Lavaca, was transported to Citizens Medical Center in Victoria. His condition was not available late Thursday.

The cause of the accident is under investigation. Trooper Ronald Johnson is investigating.